[shetlandlover]

For 3 months I've been a victim of cyber bullying from 2 hedgehog farmers that I called out after they tried to get 2 of my hedgehog babies. These two are two men, one is 30 the other 26. (I'm 22 nearly 23)

They have 30+ hedgehogs, which don't live with them. The hedgehogs live at his older aunts house which as a hedgehog owner I doubt a older lady on her own could clean out, feed and check daily 30+ hedgehogs and their 4 dogs (two huskies) I struggle with my hogs and I have no were near as many.

Now, it came out that they were selling a product under a false name to avoid tax. When things were going wrong with the product the buyers either couldn't get a refund at all (because the person didn't exist) or it took months and alot of stress.

I spoke out when they tried to buy two sister hoglets from me, I didn't sell to them and mentioned their mass amounts to the UK registry (which is our version of the kennel club) they only registered 20 of their 30 hedgehogs and were trying to get a recommended breeder status despite breeding from hogs that are not registered, registering is free and quick so there's no reason not to register some of your hogs and not all unless your hiding something.

Well since I refused to sell to them I've become a victim of their hate campaign. I was hoping if I kept quiet and took the abuse they would stop. However it's escalated.

I went onto my back up facebook account the other day to find a message that was suppose to reach me before my wedding, I'm guessing it was aimed to get me paranoid so I wouldn't enjoy my wedding. It was sent a week before my wedding.

"Carl Barton
Hey remember me from college? **** me u are FAT! like stupidly ******* FAT! fat fat fat fatty! at first i thought your pics were photoshop but no THATS REAL ******* FAT! you must be eating them ******* animals! i remember when you were like a rat.. skinny and horrid with them shitty teeth.. and now ur a WHALE!!! no wounder no ones coming to that shitty wedding of yours Emma! pmsl maybe the RSPCA or PETTA? id be ashamed to leave the ******* house never mind get in a wedding dress bet that cost a bomb all the fabrick... what a mess! oh and i know u cheated on ur to be husband! horrid girl! and dont worry im gonna tell him!"

Now I know no-one by that name, never have known a carl. And the account has since been deleted/de-activated so clearly a fake account.
I passed it off as a jealous ex but tbh he's not smart enough to come up with something like this.

I made this public on my facebook and a group of hedgehog friends messaged me that they knew who it was. They then told me how they had other nasty things these men had said about me similar to this message on the same day as the message was sent.

During this status they called me things like elephant seal and other nasty names and so called "friends" took part it in.

I made this public to the hedgehog community (as I own a hedgehog group and am part of the show committee) which they were obviously disgusted at what I'd had to endure. Now the men who've spent since September bullying me are pretending to be the victims apparently because I made their nasty messages public.

I've got other things they've done over the past 3 months but have kept it out of the public eye. If I take all of this to the police will they do anything? I've not messaged them, contacted them at all, infact I've only met them in person once and I didn't talk to them. They are calling me fat but one of them is bigger than me and the other isn't small either.

My friends kept it from me because they didn't want me to walk down the aisle and be ashamed of myself.

After becoming really ill this past month I just don't want to put up with the abuse anymore. I've got enough to deal with.

Thanks.

 

[sligy]

I cant see it would hurt to go to the police, they say they take this stuff really seriously all the time on the radio and tv.
I don't know what they would actually be able to do about it, i would just speak to them and explain to the police how its making you feel and show them the evidence you have. At the end of the day it is bullying.
Hold your head high and laugh at them, if that's the best way they have of entertaining themselves then their very sad little men indeed. They must be very very bored to carry this on for months, they are acting like children, and not very nice children at that.

Chin up

 

[JANICE199]

Can't you block them? Then only add people you know.

 

[shetlandlover]

Can't you block them? Then only add people you know.

They are doing it off fake accounts & via their statuses were alot of people I know and work along side in the hedgehog community can see the things they are saying.

 

[RockRomantic]

3 year ago i received death threats aimed towards me and my two stepsons (at the time the eldest was 9) the police got involved and said because it was a public social website I've put myself out there and there was nothing they'd do.

Now i read in the newpaper the other day about someone who had received disgusting messages via the same website and the police can do something about it, i forgot what the particular charge is called though. It would be worth a phone call to your local police station and see what they say

 

[skip]

So sorry you've had to put up with this kind of disgusting behaviour from them,i would go to the police and show them what you have,its certainly worth a try.I personally think that anyone who tries to bully another person must have huge feelings of inferiority. They should be shown up for the pieces of cr~~ they are.Funny how they dont like it when the tables are turned and you have made public what they have done.

 

[Pointermum]

The Police seem to be taking FB/Twitter things more seriously recently , it can't hurt to contact them. Sorry your going through this

 

[Lavenderb]

I would certainly take this matter to the police. They take cyber bullying a lot more seriously now. Let us know how it goes.

 

[missRV]

I'm so sorry that you're going through this too. I'd for sure recommend going to the local police with a print out of the abusive messages. I see no threats so I'm not 100% sure how seriously they'd take it but it's worth trying.

If you hover over the comment, a drop down will appear on the top right, select "report story or spam" it will then be deleted from your feed and marked as spam, it will then say "if this is abusive please fill out a report" I'd maybe give that a go as well.

These guys need to get a life at 26 and 30 you'd think they'd have grown up by now! I'm a Special Needs ICT teacher and I teach internet safety as part of my basic curriculum... looks like they need one or two sessions with my pupils to teach them about how to conduct themselves on the internet. I know it's not the same but if this were going on between my pupils I would be recommending a phone call to the police.

 

[Guest]

just come across this Thinkuknow - home

Although bullying is not a specific criminal offence in UK law, criminal and civil laws can apply in terms of, for example, harassment or threatening behaviour, and particularly relevant for cyberbullying – threatening and menacing communications:

Protection from Harassment Act 1997, which has both criminal and civil provision
Malicious Communications Act 1988
Section 43 of the Telecommunications Act 1984
Communications Act 2003
Public Order Act 1986

 

[2Cats2Dogs]

I am sorry your having to endure this.

Little things please little minds. Him and his friends seem like a bunch of low-lifes. It is difficult to know what to advise really. If you have enough information to contact the police and get a warning issued, I would pursue it.

My nephew was being bullied once through Facebook and it was only when I went round to the parents houses and threatened them with violence it stopped. It doesn't work for all situations. No-one should have to endure any form of bullying.

Sorry I can't be of much more help than this.

 

[kathateria]

that is so playground mentality.rise above it.
i know its difficult.there are settings on facebook,so YOU cant see what they are saying,if they are blocked.at least if wont upset you.even if they comment on someone elses status that your friends with,you shouldnt be able to see it.
Report it.at least you will have tried

 

[RabbitMonster]

I would definitely report it to the police, if only to have it logged. If there are other people you know that were 'friends', I think it's clear they're not really your friends, so these two ejits have done you a favour in pointing them out. As for the two ejits themselves, as difficult as it is (I know, I'm always a target for bullies), try and think of it as them being immature, small-minded little toads who clearly have nothing better to do with their time and actually, it's quite a compliment to you that they're using their valuable free time to think about you

 

[kathateria]

have a facebook cull.unfriend anyone who has ever been horrible to/or about you.They arent worth it.and they certainly not 'friends'

 

[jenniferx]

I have no legal advice but what a disgusting thing to say to someone- and so maliciously timed as well. I hope you are OK.

 

[CharleyRogan]

People have been sent to prison for malicious posts on FB.

Don't take any crap off them, log all the info with screen shots and get down to the police and report them

 

[momentofmadness]

I would imagine that they would be done for Malicious intent? or something along them lines..
I think if you speak to the right police officer it will be dealt with x


Real awful your having to go through this. xxx

My fellas ex sent us a pornagraphic pics of herself and harrassed me.. then assaulted him.. she was cautioned for Malicious intent for the card and assault for for assaulting him..

 

[Waterlily]

wow what pricks... Im so sorry, how hurtful. Coward cant say it with his real name, what a man. I am sure the police will work with fb to find his arse tho, its harrassment and a crime.

 

[missnaomi]

The police here take it seriously, as have known a couple of people to report things, I think you should give it a go - they are doing something horrible and need to be stopped.
Naomi

 

[Sussexplumber]

I would definitely report it to the police, if only to have it logged. If there are other people you know that were 'friends', I think it's clear they're not really your friends, so these two ejits have done you a favour in pointing them out. As for the two ejits themselves, as difficult as it is (I know, I'm always a target for bullies), try and think of it as them being immature, small-minded little toads who clearly have nothing better to do with their time and actually, it's quite a compliment to you that they're using their valuable free time to think about you

Quite agree, I doubt the police will really do a lot however, a simple visit and some severe words of advice might well be all it takes to put these charming dudes in their place. I had a lad start on myself and a friend at the local gym and I went straight to the police who paid him a visit very quickly and warned him if it happened again, there would be trouble. Always keep your evidence against them and don`t retaliate, however much they deserve it. You want evidence against them, not the other way around.

Is it legal to keep hedgehogs? What`s the situation here, are they injured or healthy, just kept in cages? Shouldn`t they be left to roam free?